Page 50 of Tease
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.” Rolling my shoulders back, my muscles are full of uncontrollable rage. This is how I was able to survive for the last five years. Attempting to control it all by fighting. “See you at your place tonight?”
“Yeah, man. Pizza and beer sound good for dinner?”
Walking past him, I lift my body into the ring. “Yeah. Sounds perfect.”
Skyler doesn’t wait for me to give him a signal; instead, he comes at me hard and fast.
Game. On.
CHAPTER 38
KC
Frustrated and confused are an understatement for how I’m feeling right now. I stop midstride abruptly, and fist my hands at my side; looking up at the sky, I yell to no one, “What the fuckkkkkkkk?!” People gasp, staring at me awkwardly as they continue their path around me. They probably think that I’m some lunatic, close to having a breakdown. Well, you know what? Maybe I am about to have a full-blown mental breakdown. Because I don’t know how my life can be fine and dandy, then turned upside down all byoneperson popping back into my life. Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Okay, now I need alcohol, stat.
I continue my short walk forcefully toward Darla’s Pub, our go-to for girls’ nights or anytime we need drinks and to vent about our lives. Wednesday nights are for karaoke. Whenever our busy schedules allow it, the girls and I love to sing, dance, and drink there together. In my life, my closest friends are Brittney and Ajani. Right now, I’m heading there to meet Brittney.
Pushing the door to get inside—a little too hard—it makes a loud noise against the wall. The sound makes me shove myshoulders up to my ears in embarrassment. Yikes. I hope it didn’t leave a mark. It’s a Sunday evening so there are only a few people scattered amongst the tables. Scanning the room, body doing a three-sixty, my tired eyes land on my date. As I approach the table, I open my mouth to speak.
Brittney immediately puts her small hand up to silence whatever was about to come out of my mouth. She points to the flight of shots sitting in front of her and the empty seat across from her. Clear liquid, lime, and salt present. Yep, it’s tequila. Pulling out the chair, I slowly sit, staring my friend down.
“Okay, before you sayanything, drink.” She holds her first shot up to me, waiting to cheers. Clinking our shot glasses together, we down all three, one after the other.
“Ahhh.” I lick the remnants of the last shot off my top lip. “Goes down like water after the last few days I’ve had.” I place my elbows on the tabletop and push my lips into my tightly clasped hands.
Brittney’s eyes study me for a long moment, then her forehead scrunches up. I know she’s thinking over her words wisely. Finally, the silence is too much. I hide my face behind my palms, trying to keep my tears from falling. “What the fuck, Brittney?”
“I swear I didn’t know Jared would be at the fight or that he’s here for the next six months.”
Wait a minute… My hands fall from my face, and my expression turns venomous. “Wait, how doyouknow he’s here for six months? You’ve been talking to him?”
Her expression softens and she grabs my hand, squeezing it hard. Brittney shakes her head at me. “Kailey, take a breather girl… First of all, I always have your back, nobody else's, okay?”
Closing my eyes, I nod, because it’s true. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
“I only know that tidbit of information because I saw him earlier today.” Before I have time to question that, her next words come out rushed. “He was at the gym, where Skyler trains. We didn’t spend all day together or anything like that, okay?”
Rolling my eyes at her, I admit, “Oh, I know you wouldn’t do that.”
“Okay?” Brittney lets go of my hand and sits back into her seat, allowing me to get it all out there. The look of annoyance is easily noted.
My eyes travel around the room, staring at anywhere besides my friend. My voice drops down to a whisper. “I saw him today, too.”
All of the noises around us fade out as I turn to take a peek at Brittney’s expression; it’s soft and nonjudgmental.
Uncrossing her arms, she waves her hand at me, silently instructing me to continue.
My fingertips faintly touch my sunflower tattoo. “He licked my neck.”
Abruptly she sits up, her voice loud. “Wait! What the fuck did you just say? Did he violate you?”
Quickly, I shake my head and put my hand up to let her know the story isn’t finished. I tell her about him showing up at The Purple Room today, completely taking me by surprise, licking my neck, and calling me by my favorite nickname.
“Okay… So, how are you feeling? Are you alright?”
“No, I really don’t think I am.” My hand creeps up, reaching for my necklace. I grab the pendant and casually sway it back and forth.
“Did he seethat?” Brittney’s finger points to the pendant in my hand.
